Switch mechanism



Dec. 30, 1930.

R. T. PIERCE SWITCH MECHANISM Filed Feb. 14, 192e Fzzynj.

2/ lNVENTOB Raymond T.- P lerce IIb A TEDRNEYv Patented Dec. 30, 1930ENroFFIC-E RAYMOND Tfrrnncn, or NILBURN, NEw-aEns`nY,' AssreNorrv 'ro'wEs'rINGnoUsE ELEC- Tnrc eMANUrAc'TURING COMPANY,` A` CORPORATION orPENNSYLVANIA V swr'rcrrMnoHnNIsm App11cgfiilmed-rebrary 14, 1921s.`Swinnen-1,246.

` M invention relates to switch mechanisms and as particular referenceuto anfarrangementutilizable for connecting the actuating coilor windingof an electrical measuring instrument to an" electrical circuit, andmore particularly,the actuating coil of `a voltmeter or the potentialcoilofy a wattmeter. l

In accordance with my invention, the Vactuating rodor member ofa'switchfextends through the cover of a meter casing and is so-positioned *that engagement mayl be effected therewith'bya part ofthemeter cover when thelatteris'mOVed'to af position exposing thelmeterscale. '-7 1 f v f Further in 'accordance with my invention, theaforesaid actuating 'rodf'onmember is supported for longitudinalmovement in a member longitudinally adjustable lin a passage lextending'through the cover of a meter Casing. i, n f My invention resides ,in themechanism'and hereinafter described and claimed. y

For an illustrationof one "of the forms my features -of'constructionr ofthek character apparatus may take, yreference is to be had to theaccompanying drawing, in which y:

Figure 1 is a plan view ofportions ofa meter casing with whichtmyswitch-*mecha-V nism is utilizable.- n 4 j Fig.` 2 is aside elevationalviewvof aswitch constructed in accordance 4with-my invention. Fig. 3. isanend elevational view 'of the switch shown iniFig. 2.A i, 't fj* IVVFig. 4 is a bottom view Vof the switch shown inFig. 2, and j 4' w. a.

Fignwl-is` aside elevational view, partly brokenaway,- of a-'Inetercasing byyand'in which my novel type'of switch may besupported. f

Referring to thel drawings, there is illustratedthe rear wall 1,7ak sidewall 2,r andthe top wall `or `cover 3 ofa housing or casing such, forexample, as is'illustrated in myfcopending application Serial No.254,244, filed February 14, 1928, for the `reception of apparatusutilizable for measuringan electrical quantity. y

, Suitably secured, as by screws 4, to the side wall 2 is a bracketorisupport 5 lformed, in the example shown, of suitable insulatingsleeve 9 to the cover 43.1Pas`sing interiorly of Y! Connected tothe'members 7, 7 are conmaterial, as hard rubber or a phenolcondensation product. Disposedfin'spaced and insulated relation Vin achannel' orrecess in the bracket 5 are the members 7, 7 suitably securedto said `bracket 5,7by a screw 8,l or the like. The members 7 7 shouldbe constructed`of -sheetlike resilient, conductive material, as phosphorbronze and, at -or adjacent one end, each `comprises a laterallyextending contact point'17a,-Figs.. 2 and 3, Vformed 50 preferablyofsilver. f 'y Disposedv in a rpassage extending `through the cover 3k invertical alignment with the members 7 ,'7 as viewed inFig.` 3, iskanextevriorly and interiorly threaded sleeve9,pr`eferably.ofmetallicfmaterial and havinga anged extremity'z9adisposedupon a ledge formed in `the walljdelining" the-aforesaidpassage. A 4nut lOfthreaded tothe sleeve 9 secures vthe sleeve9 andthreadedthereto isacylindrical member 11 having a :clamping nut'12vdisposed exteriorly thereof. 1 The end of member l11`projecting.intothefspace defined by the aforesaidwalls` 1, 2 and 3 istransverselyl alsAV v slotted as indicated'y at 11a and provided withVone or more lugs or projections 11b.

Passing through the l`sleeve 9 and member 11,]and-freely rotatablewithinthe latter, is an' actuating'member or rod 18 formedprefrerablyvol hard-rubbery or aphenol condensationV product. :Memberlcomprises an enlargedhead 13a, .the outer or upper surface of whichshould be knurled as indicatedj'at 13b, Fig. 1..-Extending-transverselly throughthememberl is pin'l4, formed preferablyof metallic material and adapted, i at times, to rest within theslot11a.

ductors 15 leading to one or more coils or windings, notshown, by kwhichthe deflecting or-indicating member of themeter is actuated, allasillustrated more particularly in'niy aforesaid application Serial No.

254,244, filed Februaryv 14, 1928.

J .It is desirable that the lower face of cover member?) be providedwith a recess 16 permittingready manipulationof the nuts 10 and 12,both-of which preferably are provided with exteriorly knurled orroughened f j contacts with the upper resilient member 7 and is biasedupwardly thereby. Should the member 13 be in lthe proper rotatedposition, pin 14 will fall within the slot 11a, the wall defining saidslot limiting upward movement of said member 13. When the parts are inthis position, contact members 7a, 7a should be disengaged, therebyopening the circuit of the coil or winding con nected to the members 7,7. Upon depression of member 13, as by manual engagement with theknul-led surface 13b, the upper member 7 is moved toward the lowermember 7, thereby vbringing the contact points 7a, 7 a into engagementVand closing the circuit through said coil or winding. By slightlyrotating the member 13, pin 14 will be moved from its aligned positionwith respect to slot 11a toward or into engagement with lugs 11b and,consequently, upon removali of pressure from said knurled surface 13b,normal upward movement of the member 13 is prevented, therebymaintaining the circuit including said coil or Winding in closedcondition.

Ordinarily, for a purpose hereinafter described, it is desirable, whenthe members 7a, 7 a are disengaged, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3,that the upper surface of knob 13a extend somewhat above the uppersurface of cover 3 and the parts are designed with this end in view.Member 11 may be moved in either direction longitudinally of sleeve 9 sothat member 13, when fully depressed, places the spring members 7 underlthe proper degree of tension and effects the proper contacting relationbetween the tips 7a. It will be observed that the upper surface ofmember 11 forms a stop for limiting, by coaction with the bottom surfaceof member 13a, the downward movement of member 13.

Referring to Fig. v5, there is illustrated a meter box or casing withwhich the aforesaid switching mechanism may be associated. The cover 3comprises a swinging or hinged section 17 which, when moved to theposition indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 5, eX- poses the meterdial and indicating member. Carried by the member 17 is a projection orknob 18 of hard rubber, a phenol condensation product, or the like. Withthe section 17 in the position indicated by said broken lines in Fig. 5,the knob 18 engages the knob 13a of member 13 and, therefore, saidsection 17 may be manually depressed to transmit movement to member 13and close the contact points 7a, 7a upon each other.

It shall be understood that switch mechanism of the. character hereinillustrated may be utilized otherwise than in connection with meteringapparatus or a meter boX, and that the conductors 15 may be ineluded ina circuit other than the actuating circuit of` a meter.

I claim as my invention:

.1. The combination with a' supporting member having a passage, of aswitch-actuatmg member disposed in said passage and movablelongitudinally thereof, and a sleeve carried by said supporting memberand within which said actuating member is disposed, said sleeveterminating interiorly of said passage.

2. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of aswitch-actuating member disposed in said passage and movablelongitudinally thereof, and a sleeve carried by said supporting memberand Within which said actuating member is disposed, said sleevecomprising a flanged extremity disposed interiorly of said passage. 3.The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of a. sleevedisposed in said passage, a cylindrical member disposed entirely withinthe outer limit of said passage and carried within said sleeve, andadjust-able longitudinally thereof, and a switch-actuating membermovable longitudinally of said cylindrical member.

4. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of asleeve disposed in said passage, a cylindrical member disposed entirelywithin the outer limit of said passage within said sleeve and adjustablelongitudinally thereof, means for retaining said cylindrical member inan adjusted position, and a switch-actuatin g member movablelongitudinally of said cylindrical member.

5. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of asleeve disposed in said passage, a cylindrical member disposed withinsaid sleeve and adjustable longitudinally thereof, means comprising alock nut coacting with said sleeve for retaining said cylindricalYmember in an adjusted position, and a switch-actuating member movablelongitudinally of said cylindrical member.v

6. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of asleeve disposed in said passage, a cylindrical member having a uniformouter diameter disposed within said sleeve, and a switch-actuatingmember movable longitudinally of said cylindrical member, saidcylindrical member limiting movement of said switch-actuating mem-i berin one direction. f

7. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of asleeve disposed in said passage, a cylindrical'member having a uniformouter diameter disposed within said sleeve, and a shoulderedswitchactuating member movable longitudinally of said cylindricalmember, the shoulder of said switch-actuating member coacting with saidcylindrical member Vand limiting movement of said switch-actuatingmember in one direction.

8. The combination `with a supporting member having a passage, of asleeve disposed in said passage, a cylindrical member of uniform outerdiameter threaded interior ly of said sleeve, and a switch-actuatingmember movable longitudinally within said cylindrical member.

Y 9. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of asleeve disposed in'said passage, a nut threaded to said sleeve andcoacting with said supportingmember, a cylindrical member threadedwithin said sleeve, a nut threaded to said cylindrical i member andcoacting with said sleeve, and a switch-actuating member disposedinteriorly of said cylindrical member 10. The combination with asupporting member having a passage, of a sleeve disposed in saidpassage, a nut threaded to said sleeve and coacting with saidsupporting' member, a cylindrical member threaded within said sleeve, anut threaded to said cylindrical member and coacting with said sleeve,said supporting member comprising a recess for ready manipulation ofsaidnuts, and a switch-actuating member disposed interiorly of saidcylindrical member.

l1. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, of acylindrical member disposed in said passage, and comprising a slot atone end, an actuating member movable longitudinally and rotatably insaid cylindrical member, a switch member with which said actuatingmember coacts, a transverse pin in'said actuating member, and means forpreventing rotation ofsaid actuating member beyond a predetermined'position.

l2. The combination with a supportingv member having a passage, of acylindrical` member disposed in said passage, and comrisinfr a` slot atone end an afctuatinof member movable longitudinally and rotatably insaid cylindrical member, a switch member ywith which said actuatingmember coacts, a transverse pin in said actuating member, and meanscomprising a lug extending from said cylindrical member, for preventingrotation of said actuating member beyond a predetermined position.

18. The combination with a supporting member having a passage, ofasleeve disposed: in said passage, a cylindrical member entirely withintheouter limit of sald passage threaded withinsaid sleeve for longi`RAYMOND PIERCE.

